In our part of Hertfordshire we have the best of both worlds, with easy access to London, but also wonderful green open spaces right on our doorstep. It makes our towns and villages distinct and special places to live.

As readers will know, the Borough Council is currently in the process of updating the Hertsmere Local Plan, a document that will shape development in our area over the next few decades and they published their latest proposals in October.

We need more homes so our children can afford to live in the area they know and grew up in, but this must always be alongside matching infrastructure and must not be at the expense of what makes Hertsmere special. I constantly stress this in my meetings with local officials and my Ministerial colleagues in London.

At the end of last year I met with the Borough Council’s Planning Department about the latest stage of the Plan. I urged them to ensure that any new housing is sustainably supported, including allocating land for new facilities such as a new school and healthcare centres.

I have also made this case with the agencies directly responsible for these services over the past few months, including Cllr Terry Douris, Cabinet Member for Education at the County Council; Sir David Sloman, Chief Executive of the Royal Free NHS Trust; and Dr Nicholas Small, Chair of Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group. If you would like to read more about these meetings, please do visit my Facebook page or website.

I encourage everyone in Hertsmere to engage with the Local Plan when the next round of public consultations opens as these are crucial to planners as they draw up their proposals. I look forward to working with the Council and other agencies in the coming year, and will make sure the voices of constituents are heard in this process.